A SPURNED candidate reckons voters will “punish” Conservatives in next year’s county council elections if Evesham’s cycle routes are not improved.

Matt Snape, who had put himself forward to stand in for the Tories in Evesham North West in next year’s Worcestershire County Council elections, says the condition of the paths is “a bad situation”.

“Woodlands is the street that I chose to litter-pick on behalf of Wychavon’s Adopt A Street scheme and I am so annoyed that the Tories at Worcestershire County Council have allowed Woodlands to get into such a bad situation,” he said.

“The Tories have failed Woodlands voters and I call on them to do something about the state of these pathways, otherwise voters will rightfully punish them at the polls next year.”

The extent of the issue has been downplayed by Robin Walker, chairman of campaign group Cycle Evesham Vale, who argues the wider reform required is on the agenda of local decision makers.

“I am certainly in favour of getting some improvements to the cycle paths and it is one of the things we campaign for,” said Mr Walker, namesake of the member of parliament for Worcester.

“There are very few cycle paths, the main one from the Cheltenham Road roundabout through to Sedgeberrrow was good but is deteriorating. It could do with being renovated and extended to the Ashton turn.

“We believe that working with the local authorities is better than working against them.

“I have cycled on that one recently and wouldn’t say it is a particularly bad problem and would rather get more cycle paths.

“We are in the process of campaigning to Wychavon District Council for a network of safe cycle routes and we have a sub group on the advisory group called Active Travel which I am on along with Councillor Martin King and Councillor Peter Griffiths.

“Our recommendations have been put forward on which are the priority cycle routes that need to be established or improved.”

Asked whether he feels Cycle Evesham Vale’s campaign is making better progress than in the past, Mr Walker replied: “We are, the fact Wychavon has appointed an active travel officer to work on this and really push forward to make this happen is really positive.”

  • What are your experiences of Evesham's cycle routes? Let us know by emailing reporter Andy Mitchell - andy.mitchell@newsquest.co.uk